Possible role of COVID-19 in the relapse of Klein-Levin Syndrome

Adeel Nasrullah; Anam Javed; Obaid Ashraf; Khalid Malik

doi:10.1016/j.rmcr.2021.101445

Possible role of COVID-19 in the relapse of Klein-Levin Syndrome

Respir Med Case Rep. 2021:33:101445. doi: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2021.101445. Epub 2021 May 29.

Authors

Adeel Nasrullah¹, Anam Javed¹, Obaid Ashraf², Khalid Malik²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
² Departement Pulmonology and Critical Care, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Abstract

Klein-Levin Syndrome (KLS) is an extremely rare neurological disorder which can manifest as recurring spells of sleepiness, cognitive disturbances and behavioral changes. We present a novel case of KLS relapse in the setting of Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). A 36-year-old male who had a known history of KLS since adolescence was admitted with sleepiness and behavioral disturbances. Brain imaging and autoimmune encephalitis work was unremarkable. The patient was diagnosed with a relapse of KLS secondary to COVID-19 based on symptomology and lack of any other precipitating factor. The patient required 8 days of hospitalization and was treated with benzodiazepines due to a history of robust response to lorazepam during a prior episode. The patient progressively improved and was discharged home on lorazepam taper. We report that similar to other neurotropic viruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could be the culprit in instigating KLS relapse.

Keywords: COVID-19; Hyperosmnia; Klein-Levin syndrome.

Publication types

Case Reports